Little pumpkins 2012

We have not "officially" gotten pumpkins for this Halloween/fall season, but the other day at the grocery store, the girls happened to spot some small pie pumpkins.  There was no leaving the store without two of these little guys.  The girls loving call these little pumpkins "jack".  Daddy & I will be taking them to pick a pumpkin from our pumpkin patch in a few weeks, but for now, they are having a blast with these.  Enjoy a few pics of my little pumpkins!  There is an "actual photoshoot" planned for Halloween, but I want to wait a few weeks until we have the large pumpkins & when the leaves will be more colorful ;)  Enjoy & have a great day!

The "boo-boo" under her left eye was from an unfortunate fall out of a play wagon...long story 

I tried for a pic of the two of them...alas, Jessie is eating chocolate candy...sorry grandparents, I do try! 

See I told you she's obsessed with that shirt...how many times have you seen it on the blog recently...I know it's like everyday, but I do wash it almost everyday, so I think it's ok 

Yes, she loves "jack"

Little artist

Here's what happens when I let Jessie paint & I leave for a few moments to get laundry...guess I should have suspected something like this.  What can I say, she honestly thought finger paint & glitter made her hair look good.  Her comment to me "me hair pretty, mommy!".  Silly little girly ;)

The last time....

The last two weeks have been my pack up summer/outgrown clothing organization week & I must admit it makes me kind of sad to put the girls cute clothing away.  Since there is a definite, crisp, fall-feel to the air & I know we will soon need long sleeves & coats all the time, I thought it important that I make room for the heavier clothing.  I guess I always think this is no big deal, but then I always end up procrastinating & getting sad as I fold the little outfits to be put in a big plastic tub.  So many of my favorite outfits from the summer went in that bin & especially for Ella, so many of the "baby" clothes no longer fit & went in a tub...sigh, no baby anymore.  Not that I am not happy they are both growing & thriving, but it is very bittersweet...any other moms with me on this??  Here's an article on thinking about the last times with our kiddos rather than just those all important firsts.  A friend of mine posted this on her blog & I've also seen it on facebook a lot recently.  Also, here are a few pics of Ella in a dress my mom gave her around 8 months old.  This may be one of the last times she can wear it.  It's just precious on her.  It's so funny how clothing brings back memories.  She wore this for her 8 month photoshoot with me, then again for Easter, and then for some other events at church.  Anyway, enjoy this little article & my pretty 16 month old.  Have a wonderful day!

The Last Time
By: Devon Corneal
Tonight, Little Dude asked for a snuggle before bed. It was well past his bedtime and I was tired, cranky and had a stack of laundry to fold, a memo to write and a blog post to finish. I told him I'd snuggle for two minutes. 

He crawled under his blanket, squirmed until he was comfortable and pushed me to the edge of the mattress. He offered me his favorite blankie to keep me warm. I put my arm around him and he was sound asleep before I had finished cataloguing the list of things I had to do before I could crawl into my own bed. I considered making a stealthy escape but stopped when he threw his arm around my neck while mumbling unintelligibly. A sleeping 4-year old's arm has as much strength as a soggy piece of toast, but I didn't move. Despite my earlier desire to leave, I stayed and pulled him toward me.
I had one of those rare blissful parenting moments when everything else fades away and you appreciate the simple physical presence of your child. I marveled at the amount of heat a small boy produces when he sleeps and the ease with which he leaves the world behind. I smelled his hair. The laundry could wait. 
It hit me in the darkness of his cluttered room that these days are numbered. Some night in the future, Little Dude will ask me to snuggle with him before he falls asleep, and I will have no idea that it will be the last time. I won't know to pay attention or to try to commit every minute to memory. Days or weeks or months later, I will try to recall when that last snuggle happened. I won't be able to. I know I will ache to slide next to him on his narrow bed, listen to him breathe and wait for the moment when he surrenders to his dreams. All of the irritations, the inconveniences and the wishing for time alone will seem insignificant in comparison to the warmth and peace of his nighttime routine. I will regret the times I hurried through bedtime and left his room even though he asked me to stay "Just one more minute, Mommy." 
It will be too late. 
I just now understand that in anticipating my son's "firsts," I've forgotten to appreciate what he's left behind. The firsts are monumental, celebrated and captured on film. I reveled in Little Dude's first steps, jotted down his first words and am prepared to save lost teeth. There isn't a first I haven't recorded in some way. I've paid less attention to his "lasts." I've ignored the finality that comes with moving from one stage to another. 
I don't remember the last day that Little Dude's eyes were blue before they turned green. I can't recall the last time his hair was baby soft and curly, or the last time he crawled or took a real nap. I can't pinpoint the last time we shared the peaceful quiet of a 3 a.m. feeding, or he squealed with joy to be riding his wooden rocking horse. There will be a hundred last times to come. And I won't know they've passed until there is no hope of recapturing them. I know this because I don't remember the last day he used a pacifier or waited for us to get him from his bed rather than clomping into our bedroom at some ungodly pre-dawn hour exuberant and ready to face the day as we struggle to open our eyes. I've forgotten when he stopped liking sweet potatoes or saying "Pick mine up!"
Not that there aren't stages I'm happy are gone. I don't miss teething, two-hour feedings, biting or needing to be carried everywhere. I'm neither Pollyanna nor a masochist. Babies are darling; I'm also glad I don't have one anymore. Raising children isn't all warm snuggles and charming memories. Parenting can be a long, hard slog. 
But for today I'm focusing on the last times still to come, even though I won't know that they're the last chapters until long after they've gone. The last snuggle. The last time Little Dude asks me to bring him chocolate milk. The last time we play fire trucks. The last time he falls down and comes crying to me with his entire body shaking, tears streaming down his face, believing with childish certainty that a kiss from me will make his skinned knee better. The last time he asks to marry me. The last time he believes in my omniscience. The last time we color together at the kitchen table. I'm not naïve enough to believe that this moment of reflection will stop me from becoming irritated, impatient, frustrated, bored or upset tomorrow when my son whines, spills spaghetti sauce on the rug or throws a fit because I won't let him stay up late. Maybe, though, I'll temper my response if I can remember how fleeting this all is. That for every moment I've prayed would end, there is something I miss. 

Maybe a little too much golden haze, but there's something about a September sunset :)

Magic courtesy of Ella...doesn't that glitter jar look like magic dust or something??

For comparison purposes, here she is in the same dress at 8 months old...crazy how time flies!

Little "pudge"

Those of you that read my blog will know that one of Ella's nicknames is the "pudge" (rhymes with fudge).  Not the most flattering name, but a name which we thought was fitting considering her lovely little rolls throughout babyhood.  Sadly, I think she is losing all of her cute chub as she is becoming more & more active.  Jessie calls her sister this, which we mostly discourage, but it truly is a term of endearment. Here is what is most likely my last "documentation" of her precious chub.  I can't believe my baby girl is turning into a little girl before my eyes (yes, I know this happened with Jessica also, but it just seems to be going faster with Ella).

Check out the pigtails

"Where's Ella??"

She decided to add sissy's boots by herself

The weekend

We had mostly gorgeous weather this past weekend except for some rain on Saturday morning.  And I am very happy to report Ella slept through the night (after 8 long weeks of being up at night) on Saturday night (cue angels singing--teeth are still not completely in, but she seems in a better mood--scratch that, she didn't sleep last night...uggh).  There is no denying it...summer is over & Fall is here.  Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore fall.  I love everything about this season, but I will miss all the fun we had this summer.  This is most likely the last summer I will be off from work & the last time I will have little babies running around in my yard...kind of makes me sentimental, but as everyone keeps telling me....it just gets better & better with kids.  On Saturday afternoon, after both girls had napped we headed out to a community day at one of the neighborhoods near us.  Jessie called it "Daddy's big fair".  Well, I wouldn't say it was exactly a fair, but the girls did get to see a helicopter land, a petting zoo, & some fun food also.  We were going to do a pony ride, but the line was too long & their attention spans too short.  Here are a few snapshots of them at "the fair".  Jessie was so excited that she got to see baby goats & to ride on a little yellow bus up to "the fair", honestly, we probably could have called it a day after riding on the bus.  I am very grateful to have a family to enjoy fun things with & especially thankful that my husband always makes it a priority.  Enjoy & have a wonderful day!

One of the smallest little girls there, but still interested in the petting zoo

Of course, a balloon or "ball" as she calls it, is always a hit

Ella's  not looking, but still cute ;)

I just thought this was cute of Jessie...good light too :)

She's totally obsessed with this shirt, she asks to wear her "big sissy shirt" everyday

Getting a lift from Dada...tag hanging out

She loved the baby goats

Eating Kettle Corn & that's my Thai iced tea...they loved the kettle corn...clearly look at Jessie